Easel assembly



A. L. BARKER EASEL ASSEMBLY May 22, 1956 Filed June 29, 1950 A LINCOLN BAR/(EH BY H/S A 7' TORNEYS United States Patent EASEL ASSEMBLY A. Lincoln Barker, Oakland, Calif.

Application June 29, 1950, Serial No. 171,220

3 Claims. (Cl. 45-129) My invention relates to easel assemblies, and more particularly to one applicable for use in conjunction with a blackboard assembly in classrooms.

Among the objects of my invention are:

(1) To provide a novel and improved easel assembly;

(2) To provide aoveardimp'roved easel assembly which is removably mountable on the chalk trough of a' blackboard assembly;

(3) To provide anovel and improved easel assembly for mounting on the chalk trough of a blackboard assembly and one which is adapted to hold a plurality of cups of liquid in a manner which precludes spilling of the contents of such cups;

(4) To provide a novel and improved easel assembly for mounting on the chalk trough of a blackboard assembly, and one which can be manufactured economically of plywood or the like;

(5) To provide a novel and improved easel assembly for mounting on a chalk trough of a blackboard assembly, and which may be readily cleaned.

Additional objects of my invention will be brought out in the following description of a preferred embodiment of the same taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein- Figure l is a three-dimensional view of an easel assembly embodying the features of my invention in its preferred form;

Figure 2 is a transverse view in section through the device of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan View of the device of Figure l;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the device of Figure l shown mounted on the chalk trough of a blackboard assembly;

Figure 5 is a three-dimensional fragmentary view of a rack component of the device of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing for a complete and detailed disclosure of my invention in its preferred form, the easel assembly of the present invention involves a tray 1 comprising a front wall 3, side walls 5 and 7, and bottom wall 9, with the rear wall formed by a backboard 11 intersecting the side walls and extending upwardly to an elevation substantially above the upper edge of the front wall and preferably in a plane inclined slightly to the rear, said backboard providing a work surface. The side walls are preferably dadoed or grooved on their inner sides to receive the backboard and thus determine its angle of inclination, and at the same time provide for a firm and rugged assembly. To enhance the stability of the backboard, the side walls are preferably of increased height along the side edges of the backboard whereby greater support may be rendered the backboard.

For insertion in the tray as thus formed, there is provided a tray insert or rack 13 involving a board 15 affixed along its front edge to the upper edge of a front supporting Wall 17 and at its ends to end walls 19 and 21 which extend somewhat above the plane of the board 15, the overall length of the rack being suiciently less than the inside length of the tray as to create end compartments 23 adjacent each end of the rack.

Each such end compartment may be divided by a partition 25 which is somewhat tapered to facilitate insertion and removal of the rack and at the same time bind the rack in the trayto preclude end play when th rack is assembled therein. e

The board 15 is provided with a'pluralityl of spaced holes 27 of a size adapted to receive conventional glasses, paper cups 28, or the like. The front wall 3 of the tray may be recessed along its upper edge between the aforementioned end compartments, to better expose the'rack and render such cups more accessible in use.

Triangular blocks 29 aixed to the backboard adjacent the end compartments, serve to close off the 'opening at the end of each such compartment created .by the sloping position of the backboard.

The easel assembly isadapted for mounting on the chalk trough 31 of a conventional blackboard assembly 33 such as used in classrooms, by forming a notchin the rear edge of each end wall of the tray, such notch being contoured to provide a hook 35 capable of hooking into the chalk trough, and a rearwardly projecting lower corner to form an abutment ,37,.against the wall below the chalk trough. When so mounted, the height of the backboard is preferably such as to engage along its upper end, the blackboard and thus permit application of pressure against the backboard without resulting tilting of the easel assembly about the hooks as fulcrums.

The easel assembly thus described, has been developed particularly for use in classrooms, in the instruction of pupils, particularly in the art of drawing or painting, for which use, the end compartments may be utilized for holding pencils, brushes and the like, and the various cups may be utilized for holding water color paints of different colors in solution. The paper on which such drawings or paintings are to be made, may be thumbtacked to the backboard or, in lieu thereof, a pair of wire hooks 39 may be screwed into the backboard at appropriate locations to constitute means for removably hanging such paper.

To accommodate the easel assembly to differences in blackboard installations, the lower corner projection 37 on each side Wall which engages the wall below the chalk trough may be made adjustable in any suitable manner whereby the upper edge of the backboard of the easel assembly may be rotated into contact with the blackboard to provide the necessary solid backing therefor when the easel is mounted on a blackboard assembly for use.

It Will be apparent from the aforementioned description of my invention in its preferred embodiment, that the easel assembly may be very readily mounted on the chalk trough of a conventional blackboard assembly and just as readily removed When no longer needed, and that the same provides a very novel and useful means for affording class instruction to pupils in the art of drawing and painting or the like. The rack is readily removable for cleaning the same and the tray in which it is inserted, and such rack may be left out altogether when its use is not required. In such case, the tray will offer ample room for the holding of such other items and supplies as the student or pupil may require in his work vw'th the easel.

While I have disclosed my invention in its preferred form and have described and illustrated the same in considerable detail, l do not desire to be limited in my protection to such details, except as may be required by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A blackboard easel comprising a tray having front, side and bottom walls, and a rear wall formed by a.

baekboard intersecting said side walls and extending upwardly to a higher elevation than said front wall to provide a work surface, and means located toward the rear edges of said side walls for removably mounting such assembly on the chalk trough of a blackboard assembly, said means involving a hook on each side wall engageable in such chalk trough and a projection at the lower rear corner of each side wall in a downward spaced relationship to said hook, said projection being engageable against a wall beneath such blackboard assembly and said backboard being of a height to engage such blackboard with said hook engaging the outer wall of such chalk trough.

2. A blackboard easel comprising a tray having front and side walls, and a rear wall formed by a backboard intersecting said side walls and extending upwardly to a higher elevation than said front Wall and in a plane inclined slightly to the rear to provide a work surface, a rack insertable in and of shorter length than said tray, said rack involving a board supported by end walls and forming with said tray side Walls, end compartments for brushes, pencils and the like, said board having a plurality of spaced holes for reception of glasses, cups and the like, and means located toward the rear edges of said side Walls for removably mounting such assembly on the chalk trough of a blackboard assembly, said means involving a hook on each side wall engageable in such chalk trough and a projection at the lower rear corner of each side wall in downward spaced relationship to said hook,

and engageable against a wall beneath such blackboard assembly, said backboard being of a height to contact such blackboard when so mounted on said chalk trough. 3. A blackboard easel comprising a tray having front, side and bottom walls, and a rear wall formed by a backb-oard intersecting said side walls and extending upwardly to a higher elevation than said front wall and in a plane inclined slightly to the rear to provide a work surface, means for removably mounting such assembly on the chalk trough of a blackboard assembly, said means involving a hook on each sidewall engageableY in such chalk trough and a projection at the lower rear corner of each side wall in downward spaced relationship to said hook and engageable against a wall beneath such blackboard assembly, said backboard being of a height to engage such blackboard with said hook in said trough, and means for altering the length of said projections to assure pressure contact of said hooks against the outer wall of said trough and resulting pressure contact of said backboard against such blackboard. v

References Cited inthe le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,680,056 Mathias Aug. 7, -1928 1,864,972 Bickford June 28, 1932 1,984,845 Smith et al. Dec. 18, 1934 2,367,747 Adell Jan. 23, 1945 2,485,517 Vaule et al. Oct. 18, 1949 

